B.C music teachers celebrate Remi Bouchard

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Published on Wednesday, July 4, 2018

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Pictured above are the music teachers who organized the commemorative event .

By Ann Kearney

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On May 30, 2018, music teachers gathered in Coquitlam, B.C. to celebrate the life and music of Remi Bouchard.  All are members of the British Columbia Music Teachers’ Association Coquitlam / Maple Ridge Branch.

Karen Andrews opened the workshop by performing Hommage a Riel and Katimavik. Karin chose these two selections because they are from Remi’s Golden Anniversary Collection, published in 2006 in commemoration of his 50 years of teaching. Before playing each piece, to encapsulate the emotional significance, Karin shared the history of the pieces composition and the importance of to whom each was dedicated.

Julie Lemon played Adieu from Take 5 and For Crying Out Loud.  “For Crying Out Loud” became the expression of the day as the group played, shared and dedicated their day to a Canadian Composer, famous in the hearts of many on the West Coast.

Other compositions, Praire Skies and Pleurez mes Yeux, Pleurez  were beautifully presented by Marilynn Hemsley while Liz Munro gave heartfelt renditions of Tranquility and What a Delightful Day. Ann Kearney performed W-A-L-K from A Palette of Colours, published in 2001.

The day focused on the discussion of Remi Bouchard’s outstanding success as a composer pianist, teacher, clinician and mentor.  As a composer who is entirely self-taught, Remi’s name is one that resonates in B.C. The yearly piano festivals often find Bouchard’s compositions played (from the piano Syllabi of the Royal Conservatory of Music, Conservatory Canada, and the Canadian National Conservatory).

The group ended with agreement that Remi Bouchard definitely exerted a very valuable musical influence on many people.